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Frequently Asked Questions
This page is under construction! Here is a list of FAQs for new members to obtain answers about our Club and how things work. If you have further questions or suggestions for additional FAQs, email the webmaster with your thoughts.
How Do I Become a Member of WFSC?
First you'll need to decide which category to enroll in. Next fill out the Membership Form and mail it in with a check for the appropriate amount. Visit the Membership Information page for all the details.
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What can I expect at my first Moves/Freestyle Test Session?
To be written.
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What can I expect at my first Dance Test Session?
The Application
Your coach will decide when you are ready to test your dances. Fill out and submit the official test application found on the WFSC website and at local rinks. The completed form and fees must be received by the published deadline. In addition to indicating the specific dances to be tested, make certain to circle the appropriate test level. The options are: Standard Track, Adult (25 years of age and older), and Masters (50 years of age and older.) The judges will evaluate your dances according to your chosen level. Your coach must also sign the application.
The Schedule
The exact time of your test(s) will be announced on the WFSC website. The final schedule will be posted several days before the test date. Preliminary versions of the schedule will be published about a week before the date. Make certain to visit wfsc.net for this information, as it will not be distributed in any other manner.
Arrive Early!!!
On the day of your test, make certain to arrive with sufficient time to put your skates and outfit on. Generally, be there at least half an hour before your time slot. The tests frequently run ahead of schedule. Don't forget to allow time to stretch out!
The first thing you'll want to do upon arrival at the rink is check-in with the monitor. This lets the test team know which skaters are present and it lets you know if they're running on time. The monitor will be positioned near the entry gate and will have a clipboard and walkie-talkie in hand.
Order of the Dances
Generally, the tests are run from lower dances to higher, but not always. Usually the events are grouped by level (eg bronze, then pre-silver, then silver, etc.) The dances may also be warmed up and tested separately (eg Cha Cha, then Swing Dance, then Fiesta Tango) depending on the number of testers. At the conclusion of each test level or dance, the announcer will invite the next group onto the ice for a (usually) 10 minute warmup. Music will begin 60 seconds after the last skater steps onto the ice. The warmup will conclude at the end of ten minutes or whenever the coaches signal their readiness, or perhaps even earlier at the discretion of the dance test chairman.
After the Warmup
Once the skaters have cleared the ice, the first tester(s) will be announced and called to the ice. If there is a double panel, couples will position themselves at opposite ends of the rink. This arrangement will be predetermined. Check with the monitor before stepping onto the ice. For example, the couple listed first might begin at the zamboni end of the rink and the second at the scoreboard end.
The music person will wait until the skaters are completely in position and set before beginning the music. The appropriate intro time and steps will be determined by your coach. In the case of solo dances, the music will begin as soon as the escorting coach has exited the ice. The next couple will be announced as soon as the judges have finished marking the previous skater.
The Judges
3 judges will view and evaluate most dances. However, the preliminary dances can be judged by a single judge of gold or higher ranking. A double panel is 6 judges - 3 for each dance couple. There will never be more than 2 couples testing simultaneously. Trial judges may also be in attendance but their evaluations won't affect your test outcome. Just like you, they are testing for their first or next appointment.
Dances will be rated by the judges and a final score will determine whether the skate is a "pass" or a "retry". Two out of the three judges must give a passing score in order to pass. A test may not be retested within 30 days. This is essentially to prevent coaches from using the judges' time as a practice run. Not sure if we want to put this in here or not.
Judges are volunteers who are selected from a pool of local and regional talent. They are compensated only for travel expenses and hospitality, if at all. They give their free time and knowledge to sit in a freezing cold rink purely for the love of skating and for the advancement of the sport. They richly deserve our thanks, support and respect.
The Results
At regular intervals during the test session, usually at the end of each level, the judge's scoring sheets will be collected by the dance test chairman and processed. They will then be delivered to the monitor who will distribute them to the skaters and/or coaches. The test papers may be photocopied at the front desk, but MUST be returned to the monitor promptly. The papers will be submitted to USFS where the appropriate credit will be applied to the skater's record. Tests passed will be listed on the USFS website. This usually takes a month or two.
For the Fun of it!
Remember, whether you're an aspiring Olympian, an adult picking up a new hobby, a synchro skater fulfilling the dance requirements, or whomever - this is a fun sport. Try to relax and enjoy the limelight!
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What Can I Expect at my First Competition?
To be written.
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What's the Best Way to Learn to Skate?
Obviously, there's no one best way to learn to skate, but one way is to enroll in Learn to Skate classes. Group lessons are offered at nearly all rinks in the area. This is a great way for you and/or your children to have fun, meet friends, excercise, and find out if skating is a sport you might want to get into seriously. For more intensive instruction, consider private, one-on-one lessons with a WFSC skating professional at one of our club sessions.
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Off Ice Training
To be written.
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What Goes on at the Family Sessions?
To be written.
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What Goes on at the Dance Sessions?
To be written.
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Choosing a Pro for Your Coach
To be written.
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How Should I Choose New Skates?
To be written.
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